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 DESCRIPTIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Press of the Bunker-Hill Aurora. 
 1842. 
 

 NOTE. 
 
 IIV publishing these hastilj'-written Letters in thia form 
 the writer's only object is to aid in making Nahant, its 
 desirableness as a healthful summer residence, and as a 
 quiet and delightful watering-place, more generally 
 kuown, — especially among travellers and tourists from 
 various sections of our country. He claims but little 
 credit on the score of originality, — the labor having been 
 in a great degree, that of compildlion ; and if their pre- 
 sent publication shall do anything in extending the knowl- 
 edge or adding to the interest of Nahant, or afford to 
 its residents and visiters, entertainment for a leisure 
 hiiiir, aU the.writer's\nfls^wi!l be^^coiauirsbed. C^ 
 
 
LETTER I. 
 
 The Hotel — Company — first land sjDeculator — peculiar 
 interest in the history ofNahant — Military hunting 
 wolves — progress of civilization and refinement. 
 
 Nahant Hotel, of which Mr Phineas Drew 
 has become ihe proprietor, is the great head- 
 quarters offa^hion, gaiety and enjoyment for the 
 elite of Botion, during the warm season. The 
 company of course, is very large; yet they are 
 provided vv^ith everything desirable, and there is 
 no reason why ihey should not enjoy themselves. 
 Notes pass occasionally, and the sweetest notes 
 from the piano and the human voice are often to 
 be heard; but notes to pay arc seldom thought 
 of.- ■\Vhen people come here they generally leave 
 business affairs behind them, and forget so far as 
 xhey may, the trials and f^rplexvti^s incident to 
 business-life. Nahant is the place for relaxation, 
 where one wants to pass a few weeks of unvexed 
 leisure; where he may, by the aid of the sea- 
 air, the bath and other virtues of the place, 
 invigorate his whole system, and at the same 
 lime, enjoy unalloyed with harrassing cares, the 
 delights of social intercourse. 
 
 ^^ The Nahant, ^^ as it was originally called, 
 belonged to the Indians for many years after the 
 
settlement of the English at Lynn, Salem and 
 the vicinity. Its name is said by some to sig- 
 nify an island. It was purchased of the Indians 
 hy Farmer Dexter, — who was the first land- 
 speculator in this country, so far as I have read, 
 — in 1630, for a suit of clothes. It was after- 
 wards again sold for 'Hwo pestle stones." At 
 this time, it was thickly wooded, and was chiefly 
 used by the inhabitants of Lynn, Salem, &c. 
 for pasturing their cattle, for this, at that time, 
 very satisfactory reason, viz. as it is a peninsula, 
 surrounded by water excepting the narrow beach 
 which connects it with the town of Lynn, a fence 
 across the head of this beach, in the quaint lan- 
 guage of the times, "kecpes out the woolves and 
 keepes in the cattell." 
 
 There is much matter of very peculiar inter- 
 est in the history of this little peninsula, not on- 
 ly in the limes of the Indians, but in after times, 
 since it became the resort of the English. It 
 was for many years a source of litigation, be- 
 tween the town of Lynn and Farmer Dexter 
 and others, and in the end, if I recollect rightly, 
 it was held l)y the town. It has been lotted off 
 once or twice, and on one occasion, the wolves 
 became so numerous there, that the train-band, 
 the militia of that day, (1634,) were marched to 
 it in a body, to hunt wolves! Capital military 
 exercise and discipline, and duty! Some of our 
 soldiers of the present day, we opine, would en- 
 joy a taste of such service. But the wolves 
 have all disappeared from Nahant — the Indians 
 too J are all gone — the trees have been cut down ^ 
 
a new race of animals, a new growth ot trees, 
 a new class of people, have now come on the 
 soil, and Nahant is no longer what it was in his- 
 tory. From the rudest spot of a rude people, it 
 has become the resort of the most fashionable ol" 
 the fashion,— from barbarism it has risen through 
 the grade of civilization, to refinement and lux- 
 ury, — and is now one of the most delightful re- 
 sorts in the world. Its broad and extensive 
 beaches, its rugged, rock-bound shores, its natu- 
 ral curiosities, as the Pulpit Rock, Spouting- 
 Horn, Swallow's Gave, all have their attractions. 
 So also, have the fishing, gunning, bathing, rid- 
 ing, and other amusements of the place. These 
 things are all to be seen or enjoyed, and the 
 idea of going to Nahant and returning Vithout 
 seeing or enjoying any of them, is perfectly ab- 
 surd, or as we sometimes say, ^Htis not a pro- 
 ceeding. ^* 
 
 To see Nahant, requires time; to enjoy it re- 
 quires still more. It is a place above all other 
 places to see by day and enjoy by night. Hot as 
 it is in the city, here you may ride, bathe, or fish 
 during the day, and be sure of a good, cool, 
 comfortable night's sleep afterwards. 
 
 The name and fame of Nahant have been re- 
 hearsed and sung by proser and poet, and its 
 rocks and beaches have been the theme of the 
 historian and the subject of the painter, — and 
 yet the half has never been said, sung or paint- 
 ed. I do not suppose, however, that I shall be 
 able to furnish anything very original, in what I 
 may have to offer. I shall give such facts as I 
 
may be able to gather in relation to its hfstory, 
 its early appearances and uses, natural history 
 and curiosities, and shall rely on others to fur- 
 nish most of the material, raw or manufactured, 
 just as I can find it to suit my purpose. 
 
 LETTER II, 
 
 Nalianta — Nahantoii — the Sachem Montowampata-—- 
 Visit to England — Death — Small pox among the In- 
 dians — benevolence of i^amuel Maveiick — Winnepnr- 
 kitt arrives to the succession of bis brother, aged IS 
 years — Marries Joane, of Nahant — their children — 
 Winnepiirkitl goes to Barbadoes — Is the last of the 
 Sagamores — Aberginjans and their Sachem — "Squaw 
 Sachem." 
 Nahant A was the wife of an Indian Chief, and 
 according to tradition, the saunks or queen o^ 
 Montowampate. Nahanton was a cousin of the 
 chief, and was born (on Nahani?) in 1606. 
 
 Montowampate was the Sachem of the Sau- 
 gus Indians and lived on Sagamore Hill, a high 
 bluff rock, near the head of Long Beach in Lynn. 
 He had the jurisdiction of Lynn and Marble- 
 head. It is related of Montowampate that, 
 having been defrauded of twenty beaver skins 
 
by a man in England named Watts he went to 
 Governor Winthrop, on the 26th March, 1631, 
 to solicit his assistance in recovering their value. 
 The Governor entertained him kiiK ly. and p^ave 
 him a letter to Emanuel Downing, Esq. of Lon- 
 don. Tradition asserts that he went to Eng- 
 land, where he was received with much . 'spect 
 and obtained remuneration for his fur; but dis- 
 liking the English delicacies, he hastened back 
 to Saugus, to the "enjoyment of his clams and 
 succatash." This Sachem, who was called also 
 James Sagamore, died in December 1633, of the 
 small pox. Gov Winthrop gives the loUowing 
 interesting accoun- of his death, and of the rav- 
 ages of that horrible disease, anong the natives: 
 
 "1l3S, December 5.] John Sagamore died of 
 the small pox, and almost all his people; (above 
 thirty buried by Mr Maverick of Winesemett in 
 one day.) The towns in the bay took away 
 many of the children; but most of them died 
 soon after. 
 
 '^James Sagamore of Sagus, died also, and 
 most of his folks. John Sagamore desired to be 
 brought among the English, (so 'he was;) and 
 promised (if he recovered) to live with the Eng- 
 lish and serve their God. He left one son, which 
 he disposed to Mr Wilson, the pastor of Boston; 
 to be brought up by him. He gave to the gov- 
 ernour a good quantity of wampompeague, and 
 to divers others of the English he gave gifts; 
 and took order for the payment of his own debts 
 and his men's. He died in a persuasion that he 
 should go to the Englishmen's God. Divers of 
 
8 
 
 them, in their sickness^ confessed that the Eng- 
 h'shmen's God was a good God; and that, if 
 ihey recovered, they would serve him. 
 
 "It wrought much with them, that when their 
 own people forsook them, yet the English came 
 daily and ministered to them; and yet few, only 
 two families, took any infection by it. Among 
 others, Mr Maverick of Winesemelt, is worthy 
 of a perpetual remembrance. Himself, his wife 
 and servants, went daily to them, minisiered to 
 their necessities, and buried their dead, and took 
 home many of their children. So did other of 
 their neighbors." 
 
 Montowampate, (or James Sagamore,) was 
 succeeded in his government, by his brother 
 Winnepurkitt, at the age of IS years, and this 
 chief,--it may be interesting to remark here, — 
 married his xcife from Nahani. Winnepurkitt, 
 otherwise called George Rumney Marsh, was 
 born at Medford, probably in the year 1620, and 
 resided there with his father until called to the 
 vacant Sachemship of his brother, in 163S. 
 Concerning his wife and her family, Lewis has 
 gathered the following: 
 
 "Poquannum, or Dark Skin, lived on Nahant 
 He had two children. 1. Queakusssn, born in 
 1611, and generally known by the familiar ap- 
 pellation of "Captain Tom." He removed to 
 Mistick, and afterwards to Patucket. Mr Goo- 
 kin, in a deposition, 1C36, says he is "an Indian 
 of good repute, and professes the Christian relf- 
 gion." 2. Ahawayetsquaine, called Joane, who 
 married Winnepurkitt." 
 
9 
 
 Winnepurkitt, (as I much prefer to speak of 
 these native children of the forest by their In- 
 dian names,) was the proprietor of Deer Island 
 in Boston harbor. He had three daughters^ viz: 
 Petagunsk, called Cicely; Wuttaquattinusk, or 
 the Little Walnut, called Sarah; Peiagoona- 
 quahj called Susannah. In the latter part of his 
 life he went to Barbadoes. It was supposed he 
 was carried there with the prisoners who were 
 sold for slaves at the end of Phillips war. He 
 was also the proprietor of the tract of land on 
 which Marblehead was built, which was sold to 
 that town, after his death, by his heirs; and he 
 seems to have had a claim to Nahant, as he gave 
 Mr Nicholas Davison of Charlestown, in April 
 1652, a mortgage of "all that tract or neck of 
 .land, called, Nahant," for "twenty pounds ster- 
 ling dew many yeer." 
 
 Winnepurkitt was the last of the Lynn Saga- 
 mores! He died in 1684, soon after his return 
 from Barbadoes; and his wife, — the first wooed 
 and probably the first wedded of the native chil- 
 dren of Nahant, — died the following year. 
 
 The Saugus or Lynn Indians belonged to the 
 great nation called Aberginians, extending from 
 Charles River to the Merrimack, governed by a 
 powerful Sachem, called Nanepashemet or the 
 New Moon. The Sagamores Wonohaquaham, 
 (John Sagamore of Winesemett,); Montowam- 
 pate, (James Sagamore of Lynn,); and W^inne- 
 purkitt, the last of the Sagamores, werethesons 
 of the "New Moon," who had a daughter also, 
 called Abigail. Whether Masconomond, the 
 
10 
 
 Sagamore of Agawam, (now Ipswich,) was of 
 the same family, I have not ascertained. Nane- 
 pashemet lived at iVledford, and was killed about 
 the year 1619. The government was continued 
 by his queen, called "Squaw Sachem," to whom 
 most of the tribes in Massachusetts were sub- 
 ject. In 1635, she had a second husband, whose 
 name was Wappacowet. 
 
 So much have I thought it might be interest- 
 ing to say relative to the history of these In- 
 dians, who had so much to do with Nahant, at 
 this early period of our history. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Ownership of Nahant — "Black WilHari" the original 
 proprietor — he sold it to Thomas Dexter for a suit Of 
 I clothes — Dexter's lawsuit with the plantation for Na- 
 h tit — Depositions and histori il information — N:i- 
 hant used for pasturing Cattle, and again sold for 
 *'tvvo pestle stones," 
 As regards the original ownership of Nahant, it 
 a})pears lo be evident, that in 1629, it belonged 
 to an Indian Chief, who was called by the Eng- 
 lish, Duke William or Black Will. His father 
 was a Sachem, lived at Swampscot, and died be- 
 
r 11 
 
 fore the English arrived. Black William was 
 killed by some of the white people, in 1633. 
 
 In 1630, Black William sold Nahant to Thom- 
 as Dexter. Dexter lived on the western bank 
 of Saugus river, was an active and enterprising 
 man. He built a mill and a wear across Saugus 
 river; owned eight hundred acres of land, and 
 by way of excellence was called Farmer Dexter. 
 Among his other speculations, he purchased Na- 
 hant of Black William for a suit of clothes. 
 This purchase gave rise to an expensive law- 
 suit between Farmer Dexter and the town, in 
 1657, the following account of which is taken 
 from Lewis, who quotes from the files of the 
 Quarterly Court: 
 
 "Mr Thomas Dexter, who claimed Nahant ag 
 a purchase from Black William, commenced an 
 action at the Quarterly Court, on the Sd of 
 June, against the town, for occupying it. 
 The case was defended by Thomas Laghton, 
 George Keysar, Robert Coats, and Joseph Ar- 
 niitage in behalf of the town. The following 
 depositions were given: 
 
 1. "Edward Ireson, aged 57 yeares or there- 
 abouts, sworne, saith, that liveing with Mr ' 
 Thomas Dexter, I carried the fencing stuff, 
 which master Dexter sett up to fence in Nahant 
 his part with the rest of the Inhabitants, and 
 being and living with mr Dexter, I never heard 
 him say a word of his buying Nahant, but only 
 his interest in Nahant for his fencing with the 
 rest of the inhabitants, this was about 25 years 
 since, and after this fence was set up at na- 
 
12 
 
 hant, all the new comers were to give two stiil- 
 lings sixpence a head or a piece vnto the setters 
 up of the fence or inhabitants, and some of Salem 
 brought Cattell alsoc to nahant, which were to 
 give soe." 
 
 2. "The Testimony of Samuel Whiting senr: 
 of ye Towne of Linne, Saithj that Mr Hum- 
 phries did desire that mr Eaton and his compa- 
 ny might not only buy Nahant, but the whole 
 Towne of Lynne, and that mr Cobbet and he 
 and others of the towne went to mr Eaton to 
 offer both to him, and to commit themselves to 
 the providence of God, and at that time farmer 
 Dexter lived in the towne of Linne." The Mr 
 Eaton here mentioned, was Theophilus Eaton, 
 afterwards Governor of Connecticut. 
 
 S. "The Dep. of Daniel Salmon, aged about 
 45 yeares, saith that he being master Hum- 
 phreye's servant, and about 23 years agon, there 
 being wolves in nahant, commanded that the 
 whole traine band to goe drive them out, be- 
 cause it did belong to the whole towne, and 
 farmer Dexter's men being then at training 
 went with the rest. 
 
 4. "This I Joseph Aimitage, aged 57 or there 
 abouts; doe testifie, that about fifteen or sixteen 
 yeares agoe, wee had a generall towne meeting 
 in Lin, at that meeting there was much dis- 
 course about nahant was theires, myself by pur- 
 chase haveing a part therein, after much agita- 
 tion in the meeting, and by persuasion of mr 
 Cobbilt, they that then did plead a right by 
 fencing, did yield up all their right freely to the 
 
IS 
 
 Inhabitants of ihe Towne, of which Thomas 
 Dexter senr was one." 
 
 5. *'We, Geo. Sagomore and the Sa^^omore 
 of Agawam, doe testify that Duke William so 
 called did sell all Nahant unto ffarmer Dexter 
 for a suite of cloathes, which cloaihes ffarmer 
 Dexter had again, and gave vnto Duke William 
 so called 2 or S coates for it again.' This depo- 
 sition was signed with an S. as the mark of Mas- 
 conomond and the bow and arrow, as the maik 
 of Winnepurkitt, 
 
 *'Other depositions were given by Richard 
 Walker, Edward Holyoke, George Farr, Chris- 
 topher Lindsey, William Dixey, William Wit- 
 ter, John Ramsdell, John Hedge, William 
 Harcher, and John Legg. The Court decided 
 in favor of the defendants; and Mr Dexter ap- 
 pealed to the Court of Assistants," 
 
 The two following paragraphs, also from 
 Lewis, afford some further information concern- 
 ing Nahant, and the use which was made of it. 
 William Dixey came over as a servant of Mr 
 Isaac Johnson, and was admitted a freeman in 
 1634. 
 
 On his arrival, application was made by his 
 master, for him and others, " for a place to sitt 
 ilowne in; upon which," he says, "mr Ende- 
 cott did give me and the rest leave to goe where 
 weo would; upon which I went to Saugust, now 
 Linne, and there we met with Sagamore James 
 and som other indians, whoedid give me and the 
 rest leaue to dwell there or thereabouts; wherc- 
 
14 
 
 upon I and the rest of my master's company did 
 cutgfrassfor cattell, and kept ihem upon nahant 
 for som space of time; for the Indian James Sag- 
 amore and the rest did give me and the rest, in 
 behalf of my master Johnson, what land we 
 would; whereupon wee sett down in Sauguat, 
 and had quiet possession of it by the above said 
 Indians, and kept our cattell in nahant the sum- 
 mer following." 
 
 1630. '^William Witter was a farmer, and re- 
 sided at Swampscot. He says, ''Blacke will, or 
 duke William, so called, came to my house (which 
 was two or three miles from Nahant) when 
 Thomas Dexter had bought Nahant for a suit 
 of clothes, the said Black will Asked me what I 
 would give him for the Land my house stood 
 vppon, it being his land, and his flfather's wig- 
 wame stood their abouts, Jamea Sagomore, being 
 a youth was present, all of them acknowledg- 
 inge Black tvill to be the right owner of the 
 Land my house stood on, and Sagomore Hill 
 and Nahant was all his;" and adds 'Hhat he 
 bought Nahant and Sagomer Hill and Swams- 
 coate of Black William for two pestle stones." 
 
 It would appear from the first of the above 
 quotations that Sagamore James, (Montowam- 
 pate,) exercised the authority of his government 
 in disposing of Nahant, or at least of the use of 
 it, while from the second paragraph, according 
 to Witter, he allowed that it belonged to Black 
 William. Winnepurkitt, his successor, also at- 
 tempted to dispose of it, as appears by the mort- 
 gage already mentioned. But this last sale o* 
 
15 
 
 Nahant, including Sagamore Hill, (where the 
 reigning monarchs appear to have resided.) 
 and Swampscot, "for two pestle stones," is cheap 
 beyond al! account. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Use made of Nahanl — Swine lei loose in ibe woocib — 
 Description of Nuliant in 1633, written bj WiUiHm 
 Wood — Very full and complete — Remarks. 
 I GAVE you in my last some very interesting par- 
 ticulars relative to the History of Nahant and 
 its ownership. The facts stated in the extracts 
 then communicated, were mostly new to nie, or 
 if I had seen them in print before., it was in 
 such connection with other matter ss to escape 
 my particular attention. It was clear, it seemed 
 to me by the depositions from the files of the 
 Courtj that Duke William really sold Nahant to 
 Farmer Dexter; but it does not appear that he 
 ever obtained possession of his purchase. From 
 the very first, it was used as a pasture, common 
 to the plantation, although infested by wolves, 
 bears and other wild beasts. Even from Salem 
 the settlers brought their cattle to Nahant in 
 the summer; and in the autumn, the swine were 
 
16 
 
 "let loose in the woods that they mieht fatten 
 themselves on nuls and acorns." At this time, 
 it would hardly be credited that a jiut or aeorn 
 ever grew at Nahant. 
 
 The following full, graphic and particular de- 
 scription of Nahant, is taken from "New Eng- 
 land's Prospeet," written in 1633, by William 
 Wood, which work was undertaken, according 
 to his account, "because there hath been many 
 scandalous and false reports passed upon the 
 Country, even from the sulphurous breath of 
 every base ballad monger." 
 
 "The next plantation is Saugus, sixe miies 
 Northeast from Winnesimet. This '1 ownc is 
 pleasant for situation, seated at the bottom of a 
 Bay, which is made on the one side with the 
 surrounding shore, and on the other side with a 
 long sandy Beach. This sandy beach is two 
 miles long, at the end whereof is a necke of 
 land called Nahant. It is sixe miles in curcum- 
 ference, well wooded with Oakes, Pines, and 
 Cedars. It is beside well watered, having, be- 
 side the fresh Springs, a great Pond in the Mid- 
 dle, before which is a spacious Marsh. In Jhis 
 necke is a store of good ground, fit for the 
 Plow; but for the present it is onely used to 
 put young Cattle in, and weather goates, and 
 Swine, to secure them from the Woolues; a few 
 posts and raylesj from the low water markes to 
 the shore, keepes out the Woolves, and keepes 
 in the Cattle. One Black Williani, an Indian 
 Duke, out of his generosity, gave this place in 
 
17 
 
 general! to this plantation of Saugiis, so that no 
 other can appropriate it to himselfe. 
 
 'Vpon the South side of the sandy Beach the 
 Sea beateth which is a true prognostication to 
 presage stormes and foule weather, and the 
 breaking up of the Frost. For when a storme 
 haih beene, or is likely to be, it will roare like 
 Thunder, being hearde sixe miles; and after 
 stormes casts up great stores of great Clan>me», 
 which the Indians, taking out of their shels, 
 carry home in baskets. On the > orth side of 
 this Bay is two great Marshes, which are made 
 two by a pleasant River runnes between them. 
 Northward up this river goes great store of Ale- 
 wives, of which they make good Red Herrings; 
 insomuch that they have been at charges to 
 make them a wayre, and Herring house, to dry 
 these Herrings in; the last yeare were dried some 
 4 or 5 Last, [about 150 barrels] for an experi- 
 ment, which proved very good; this is I'ke to 
 prove a great enrichment to the land, (being a 
 a staple commoditie in other Countries,) lor there 
 be such innumerable companies in every river, 
 that I have seen ten thousand taken in two 
 houres, by two men, without any weire at all, 
 saving a few siones to stone their passage up 
 the river. There likewise come store of Basse, 
 which the Indians and English catch with hooke 
 and line, some fifty or three score at a tide. At 
 the mouth of this river runnes up a great creeke 
 into that great Marsh, which is called Rumny 
 Marsh, which is 4 miles broad, halle of it being 
 Marsh ground, and halfe upland grasse, without 
 2* 
 
18 
 
 tree or bush; this Marsh is crossed with "Qivers 
 creekes, wherein lye great store of Geese and 
 Duckes. The;e be convenient ponds for the 
 planting of Ducke coyes. Here is likewise be- 
 longing to this place divers fresh meddowes, 
 which afford good grasse; and four spacious 
 ponds, like little lakes, wherein is store of fresh 
 fish, within a mile of the towne; out of which 
 runnes a curious fresh brooke, that is seldom 
 frozen by reason of the warmenesse of the vva- 
 terj upon this stream is built a water Milne.and 
 up this river come Smelts, and Irosi fish, much 
 bigger than a Gudgeon. For wood there is no 
 want, there being store of good Oakes, Wall- 
 nut, Cedar, Aspe, Elme. The ground is very 
 good, in many places without trees, and fit for 
 the Plough. In this place is more English til- 
 lage, than in all New-England, and Virginia be- 
 sides; which proved as well as could be expect- 
 ed; the corn being very good, especially the 
 Barly, Rye, and Gates. 
 
 '*The land affordeth to the inhabitants as 
 many varieties as any one else, and the sea 
 more; the Basse continuing from ihe middle of 
 April to Michaelas, [29th Sept.] which stayes 
 not half that time in the Bay, [Boston Harbour]; 
 besides, here is a great deal of Rock cod and 
 Macrill, insomuch that shoales of Basse have 
 driven up shoales of Macrill, from one end of the 
 sandie beach to ihe other; which the inhabitants 
 have gathered up in wheelbarrowes. The Bay 
 which lyeth before the Towne, at a low 
 spring tyde will be all flatts for two miles to- 
 
19 
 
 gether; upon which is great store of Muscle 
 banckes, and clam bancks, and Lobsters among 
 the rockes and grassie holes. These flatts make 
 it unnavigable for shippes; yet at high water, 
 great Boates, Loiters, and Pinnaces of 20 or 30 
 tun, may saile up to the plantation; but they 
 neede have a skilfull Pilote, because of many 
 dangerous rockes and foaming breakers, that lye 
 at the mouth of that Bay. The very aspect 
 of the place is foriification enough to keep off 
 an unknowne enemie; yet it may be fortified at 
 little charge, being but few landing places there- 
 about, and those obscure." 
 
 This description of Nahant is peculiar, and 
 like all the productions of that early period, is 
 quaint and minute, embracing almost every 
 mentionable thing about Nahant. To all who 
 are acquainted with the portion of country des- 
 cribed, irom Chelsea to Salem, it will appear 
 not a little remarkable that so full and complete 
 an idea of the country, its character, soil, ap- 
 pearances, uses, productions, rivers,creeks, ponds, 
 marshes, harbor, fish, the manner of taking them, 
 &c. &c. could have been given in so few words. 
 Nothing seems to have escaped the observation 
 of Mr Wood, as nothing can exceed the graphic 
 and sometimes beautiful language, which he has 
 employed. How truly he says, of the rocky 
 headland of Nahant, "the very aspect of the 
 place is fortification enough to keepe off an un- 
 knowne enemie; yet it may be fortified at little 
 charge, being but few landing places thereabout, 
 and those obscure." 
 
LETTER V. 
 
 Nuhant not fuUy appreciated — Sun ii-e at Nali;int — 
 Morning walk — 'I'asite for Scientific pursuits — Taete 
 lor something — Long Beach. 
 I HAVE long been ofthe opinion that this delight- 
 ful and saluburious summer retreat, is not pio- 
 perly appreciated, highly as it is estimated by 
 the thousands who annually visit it. But a tran- 
 sient visit, — while the steam boat stops at the 
 landing, — cannot afford a correct or adequate 
 idea of Nahant, its beauties, wonders or luxu- 
 ries. It requires a week, or perhaps a whole sea- 
 son, to see Nahant as it should be seen to be 
 fully appreciated, — not a week of fine weather, 
 for better is it by far that it should be interspers- 
 ed with a storm or two. Nahant needs to be 
 seen under all its aspects, — under the darkening 
 cloud, amidst the roaring ocean, whitened by 
 the foaming billows, and illuminated by ihe flash- 
 ing lightning; as ;vell in the broad sunshine 
 of noon, when the blue and beautiful ocean is 
 spread out to the eye, until sky and sea forms a 
 common line, as in the evening; when the breath- 
 hing south wind comes softly over the water 
 and cools the fever ish temple with its balmy air. 
 Much has been said of the indescribable mag- 
 
SI 
 
 nif cence of a Sun-Rising at sea, and it certainly 
 IS a display of splendor and of gorgeous light 
 only to be equslled by a sun rising at Nahant, 
 which is very much the same thing. The sun is 
 beheld emerging from the limiiless surface of the 
 ocean, reeking as it were, in all his glory, while 
 the sky presents a far spreading canopy of gold. 
 The scattered sails on the ever-heaving bosom 
 of the sea, are gilded with the glorious light, 
 and the market-fishermen, as the day advances, 
 are seen in the dorys, like flies on the wave. 
 But it is not the sun only, in all the glory of his 
 rising, which is pleasant and gratelul to the 
 early riser at Nah;int: in the midst of the ocean, 
 the air is pure and invigorating, and all around 
 )S ihe silent grandeur and vast uiagnificence of 
 nature's works. The swelling sea, wiih scarce- 
 ly a breeze-ripple on its bosom, dashes against 
 the rugged shore and rolls its white foam over 
 the clitfs and in the deep crannies of the rocks. 
 
 A morning walk at Nahant, is one of the most 
 exhilerating and healthful pleasures of the place, 
 whether it be in the gravelled walks, on the 
 "sandie beach," or bounding over the craggy 
 rocks, — there is everywhere enough to engage 
 the attention, whether it be directed to botany, 
 conchology, mineralogy, Jishology^ or mere 
 curious observation. No one need to have his 
 lime hang heavily about him, whether he has a 
 taste for scientific pursuits r r for the enjoyment 
 of natural scenery, — for the most slugyisli can 
 enjoy his bed in the warmest nights or hottest 
 mornings, and such at least are sure to have 
 
92 
 
 a taste for a good breakfast, in the expectancy 
 ofvvhich. at Drew's, he will not be disappointed. 
 
 Nevertheless, it is absolutely necessary that 
 the visiter at Nahan-t should have a taste for 
 somelhing, — it hardly matters what it is for, but 
 taste of some sort he must have. II it be a laste 
 for reading, cool and airy retreats are easily 
 found; if for pleasant scenes and natural gran- 
 deur, these are open before him; if fur science, 
 in things of the air, earth or sea, he may enjoy 
 and cultivate it; if for pedestrian or equestrian 
 exploits, he may enjoy it; if for fashion and fop- 
 pery, he can show himself as he pleases and find 
 plenty of observers; or if for bathing, or shoot- 
 ing, he may swim, fish or shoot to his heart's 
 content. In addition to all this there are other 
 amusements, common to similar resorts, in which 
 ladies, gentlemen and children can indulge in va- 
 rious parts of the day. 
 
 The mid-day at Nahant, including the hours 
 immediately preceding and succeeding the hour 
 of dining, is generally embraced for a ride to the 
 Long Beach, — one of the most delightful drives 
 in the world. Ladies and gentlemen set off from 
 the Hotel in carriages, barouches, chaises, on 
 horseback, in parlies, to enjoy a ride over this 
 remarkable beach. 
 
 It has always seemed to me that neither pen 
 nor pencil, nor both combined under the most 
 favorable circumstances, could give any truly ad- 
 equate idea of Nahant Beach, and the cease- 
 less ocean-wave which rolls over its smootheneU 
 Burface. It is an exhibition of natural beautv 
 
2S 
 
 and grandeur, neither to be described nor paint- 
 ed. It is beyond the poet's as the painter's art 
 — it is too sublime, too vast, too overwhelming 
 for the power of language. Words, — mere 
 words, — are not large enough ! The sublime im- 
 mensity of a single wave — as it comes rolling on 
 in its changing colors and overhanging fullness, 
 and its crest of glittering diamonds, which 
 spreads in bursting bubbles at your feet, — not 
 only exhausts but exceeds all language. The 
 broad and far extending Beach, with its almost 
 rockless and unruffled surface; — a deadened mir- 
 ror of evenness and beauty, — a ball room, as it 
 were, vast enough for all the sea-nymphs of the 
 great Atlantic to celebrate their gala days, — is 
 not to be put in mere words, cannot be describ- 
 ed except in living characters equivalent to its 
 own immensity. It is a whole language, — even 
 more, an eternity in itself, — and can no more be 
 written than the blue arch of heaven. Nor can 
 it be described in parts— there is no power, no 
 method, by which to convey to another, as a 
 whole or in portions, an adequate idea of its 
 sublime grandeur. It fills the mind too full for 
 the power of language; thought itself is check- 
 ed: expression fails wholly, and we are either 
 absorbed in admiration and wonder, or aim to 
 unchain the mind from its enchantment by the 
 force of some careless remark. It is like the 
 Ocean — who can describe or paint the Ocean'^ 
 If it were still and motionless, who can des- 
 cribe its magnificent vastness or paint its glori- 
 ous depths? Us eternal upheaving-bosom, its 
 
24 ' 
 
 limitless immensity, its crested waves kissing the 
 air in bursting chrystals, — who can convey these 
 to the unpresent mind in language? Who can 
 p'cture, in words or colors, as it is, a single wave 
 j'n its moving life? Why then talk of putting 
 into words — characters more diminutive than its 
 gentlest ripple— the Ocean itself, in contact with 
 its almost equal wonder, the far-spread Beach 
 of Nahant? 
 
 LETTER VL 
 
 Nahaiit beginning to be appreciated — Erection of the 
 hotel in 1820 — Its architecture &c. — Addition to the 
 hotel building — Its architectural deformity balanced 
 by its conveniency — Employment of time — Breakfast, 
 Dinner, Tea — Evening amusements — Fashion the life 
 of Love — Evening walk — Cool sleep. 
 
 Although Nahant has been a public resort for 
 many years past, it is, we may almost say, be- 
 ginning to be appreciated, it has gradually 
 grown into favor and is more appreciated as it is 
 more visited. — It wears well and improves upon 
 acquaintance. It is now over twenty years since 
 the erection of the Hotel, which took place in 
 1820, and from that time Nahant has grown to 
 
25 
 
 be one of the most celebrated "watering places" 
 in the country. This Hotel is on the most south- 
 erly or southeasterly point ofNahant, — the ocean 
 head-land, — and is built of native stone, taken 
 from the immediate vicinity of its location. The 
 interior arrangements and the architecture of 
 the building is light, airy and elegant, as such a 
 building should be in such a place. It contains 
 nearly one hundred rooms; but these and the 
 general accommodations of the house having 
 become wholly inadequate to the accommo- 
 dation of the company, some dozen years ago a 
 a large additional building wai erected, connect- 
 ed on the southerly side of the former edifice, 
 which affords above a hundred rooms and a very 
 large and commodious dining-hall. The out- 
 buildings, the billiard hall, bathing-house, and 
 even the bowling allies, and we had almost said 
 the ice-house and hen-coops, are all in good taste, 
 especially the first named, which is really a neat 
 but a small sample of the "Grecian temple" 
 style. These, (although we did not mean to say 
 anything about it,) are all put to the blush by the 
 "convenient addition!" However, as we en- 
 joy the occupancy of very airy and pleasant 
 rooms, enclosed by its outward ugliness, com- 
 manding most extensive views of the city and 
 neighboring towns, and especially of the far- 
 extending ocean, it may be as well to admit, (as 
 we now do) that its interior advantages make 
 amends for its exterior deformity. The hand- 
 some, cool and commodious dining hall, also, — 
 we confess' we have much respect for that, in con- 
 s' 
 
26 
 
 sideration of its own excellent qualities and the 
 service to which it is appropriated. 
 
 In our last, we gave a sketch of what might be 
 done or seen at Nahant, to employ the time, and 
 especially at morning and noon. A word of the 
 evening hour may not be amiss here, particular- 
 ly as we have been talking of the hotel. Break- 
 fast is by many considered a dull meeting, — Din- 
 ner is often made as it were, a matter of busi- 
 ness, generally to be despatched, as some of the 
 railroad folks say, but Tea is a merry meeting. 
 We confess we have often found it so; but aj- 
 ter tea is the social hour at Nahant. At this 
 time, the ladies and gentlemen, with their little 
 res} on nihilities, generally rej)air to the long 
 drawing-room. Some of the nimble fingers are 
 always ready for the piano forte, and some of 
 the nimble feet are ever ready for the dance, 
 and thus the evening's social pleasures are com- 
 menced. The "young people" play, dance and 
 sing, while those who choose, enjoy the familiar 
 conversation, enlivened by delicate and spark- 
 ling wit. The senior part of the company con- 
 gregate in groups, while many a soft word pass- 
 es between those of fewer years, and who are 
 more sensible to the mild influences of love. — 
 There is fashion in everything, and not less in 
 young love than in other things. Fashion is, in 
 some sense, the life of love. People love, some- 
 limes, because it is the fashion, and fashionable 
 j)eopIe must not be unfashionable. But we 
 prove our position syllogistically thus: fashion 
 is true taste, (or ought to be,) true taste is love- 
 
27 
 
 Jy; whatever is lovely is the life of love; — why 
 then should not Nahant be the peculiar abode ol' 
 the fickle goddess? Lovely in itself; fashiona- 
 ble for itself, — it is, for a season, the favorite re- 
 sort of young hearts, worshipping at the shrine 
 of the blind goddess. 
 
 There is nothing of dulness in an evening at 
 Nahant. A walk, in the mild light of the moon, 
 to the Spouting Horn, Swallow's Cave, or to 
 any of the rocky prominences, is delightfulj — 
 the calm and unbroken quietude that reigns over 
 the scene, is soothing to the mind, while the 
 cool, pure air, invigorates the body. The glit- 
 tering diamonds of the skies, shine out with a 
 clearer brilliancy in the transparent air of Na- 
 hant, and the ocenn wave curls its white foam, 
 to catch, as it were, pearly gems from their soft 
 light. The white sail is seen on the heaving 
 wave, or it may be, lifted into the horizon, where 
 the sky and sea unite in one line of space. The 
 distant light houses cast their light across the 
 broad expanse of waters for the mariners' aid 
 and direction. These and other scenes serve to 
 engage the attention and gratify the taste, before 
 the hour of retiring, which invariably'- comes 
 along sooner than is expected. A night's sleep 
 at Nahant, in hot weather, is a luxury no where 
 else to be enjoyed — if ice is a luxury at Canton, 
 so is a bed at Drew's, of a hot August night! — 
 To be appreciated it must be enjoyed — no one 
 can describe its invigorating influence. 
 
LETTER VII. 
 
 CoJtivation of trees — Nahant robbed of its wood for 
 fuel — Robert Page presented for •seiinge saille' with 
 wood on Sunday — Order of the town for clearing the 
 land — Considerat ions concerning Nahant; its. past 
 and present uses, its growtli as a place of resor^. 
 You could not but have remarked the fact stated, 
 that in 1630, Nahant was well covered with for- 
 est trees, of various kinds, which since that time 
 have all been destroyed. There are now but 
 few trees of any age on the Peninsula, and those 
 are principally willows. Eflbris have been re- 
 peatedly made in years past, to rear trees of ev- 
 ery description on Nahantj which so far, except- 
 ing in relation to the Balm oi Gilead, have prov- 
 ed unsuccessful. Of this last description, Mr 
 Tudor has raised a great number, and they have 
 been set out along the road and over the penin- 
 sula very generally. They have thrived pretty 
 well so far, and seem to stand the winter and 
 winds very successfully. 
 
 Nahant was robbed of its wood, probably as 
 the islands in Boston Harbor were, — for fire- 
 wood. For instance, the inhabitants of Boston 
 supplied themselves with wood from Noddle's 
 
Island, now East Boston, and probably from the 
 other islands. We find, in reference to Nahant, 
 that on the 13th of June, 1668,— "Robert Page 
 of Boston, was presented for setinge sailie from 
 Nahant; in his b'^ate, being Loadenwith wood; 
 thereby Profaining the Lord's Daye." It was 
 no offence to take wood from Nahant — the of- 
 fence appears to have consisted in taking it on 
 Sunday. On the contrary, the town of Lynn, 
 in 1656, passed an order for clearing of the land, 
 laying a penalty of 50 shillings on those who ne- 
 glected to clear their lots in six years. The fol- 
 lowing is the order from the town records of 
 Lynn: 
 
 "At a towne meeting held February 24, 1656, 
 It was voted that Nahant should be laid out in 
 planting lotts, and every householder should 
 have equal in the dividing of it, noe man more 
 than another, and every person to clear of hia 
 wood in 6 years, and he or they that do not clear 
 their lotts of the wood, shall pay 50 shillings for 
 the tbwne's use. Alsoe, every householder is to 
 have his and their lotts for 7 years, and it is to 
 be laid downe for a pasture for the towne, and 
 in the seventh year, every one that hath improv , 
 ed his lott by planting shall then, that is in the 
 seventh year, sowe their lott with English corne, 
 and in every acre of land as they improve, they 
 shall with their English come, sow one bushel 
 of hay seed, and soe proportionable to all the 
 land that is improved, a bushell of hay seed to 
 one acre of land, and it is to be remembered that 
 no person is to raise any kind of building at all, 
 
so 
 
 and for laying out this land there is chosen 
 Francis Ingals, Henry Collins, James Axee, 
 Adam Hawckes, Lieut. Thomas Marshall, John 
 Hathorne, Andrew Mansfield." 
 
 We have seen that Nahant was originally the 
 resort of wolves and other wild beasts; next the 
 resort of the savage, who came here lor food and 
 amusement on the beaches; next it was formed 
 into a pasture for the "cattle and swine" of the 
 first settlers; afterwards it was improved for the 
 catching- and curing of fish and its lands appro- 
 priated lA'ith conditions relating to that use; it 
 was used as a wood lot, to furnish fuel; not only 
 to "Saugustj" (Lynn, and all the vicinity,) but 
 to Boston; it was sold for a suit of clothes, re- 
 claimed and sold again for two old coats; was 
 mortgaged for £10 to Mr Davison; was again 
 sold for tv/o "pestle stones;" was afterwards 
 lotted out to be cultivated, on certain conditions 
 which we have mentioned; became the subject 
 of long and ledious litigation among the early 
 settlers; — and two hundred years afierwards 
 it became the frequeni lesort of pleasure parties 
 from Boston and all the country round, afford- 
 ing no accommodations but its native roughness, 
 and the roughness of its natives. The former 
 is well known, and the latter is well remember- 
 ed. There were but three or four families of 
 white people on Nahant at this time. It had 
 then been robbed of its trees, and shorn of much 
 of its beauty. These families were very shy of 
 visiters — they disliked the intrusion — would run 
 
Si 
 
 affrighted when ihey saw them coming — and it 
 was with great difficulty that any thing in the 
 nature of cooking utensil or food, could be ob- 
 tained from them. They would shut their doors 
 in the faces of strangers and escape to their back 
 rooms or chambers of safety. Subsequently to 
 this time (say about 1815 and up to 1820 ) par- 
 ties frequently went to Nahant in carriages. — - 
 A gentleman lately informed me that they used 
 to start from Boston by daylight in the morning, 
 taking with them every thing which they would 
 need except j^sA. Mr Wood, who kept a house 
 there, would cook for them, and perhaps furnish 
 a few vegetables. 
 
 Visiters became so frequent, and applications 
 for various little accommodations so common, 
 that the necessary intercourse increased, and fi- 
 nally these very people began to make it an ob- 
 ject to accommodate parties of pleasure, so far 
 as they were able, and to charge them, as we 
 have been told, most unconscionable prices for 
 the smallest favors. This also naturally led to 
 the opening of several houses for public enter- 
 tainment, which are now standing in the village, 
 some half niile from the Hotel. From the time 
 of which we have been speaking to the present, 
 Nahant has been the resort of companies of 
 friends, families and parties, for the enjoyment 
 of its salubrious air, sea-bathing and its excel- 
 lent fish. In uncivilized and barbarous times, it 
 was the resort of wild beasts, the roaming field 
 and the pleasure ground of the savage; in after 
 ages^ and in more enlightened times, it is now 
 
S2 
 
 the resort of the gay, the beaiitifulj the rich, 
 the refined. The fair-haired and bright-eyed 
 beauty of our own country, the stars and 
 gems of female literature and loveliness from 
 other climes, men of genius, learning, and fame 
 — all now resort for recreation and enjoyment to 
 the early pleasure ground and hunting field of 
 iheuntuiored savage! 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 Disappointment on visiting Naliant — Looking out for 
 
 tbe S ii-Serpent Correct idea of Nahant "a 
 
 watering place," toward the Ocean — Few trees 
 and shralibery, but not witiiout cultivation — No foxes, 
 wolves or bears now; but rocks, beacbes, fish, scene* 
 ry, air, miners I.*, specimens of natural history, ^c. 
 
 When persons visit Nahant for the first time 
 and for a short time, it is seldom the case that 
 they are not disappointed. They have very like- 
 ly heard of Nahant — perhaps have heard much 
 about it, and in many cases expect to see the 
 sea serpent, or some other wonder, of course. — 
 We remember, on our first visii to Nahant, we 
 looked for his snakeship all the way on the pas- 
 sage, and went incontinently to the piazza of the 
 
ss 
 
 hotel, with glass in hand, about as much prepar- 
 ed to see him as though we had come to witness 
 an established exhibition. Of course, we did 
 not see him — his majesty did not choose to be 
 stared at as a show! He only shows himself, 
 when it suits himself to be seen. Enpassantf 
 of the Sea Serpent: without much doubting the 
 existence of such a creature as the Sea Serpent, 
 ourselves, we have reason to believe that some- 
 thing else is seen very often and reported to be 
 the real serpent. The creature called a Sea Ser- 
 pent may be frequently seen; but then other 
 things or creatures, are also seen and also called 
 the Sea Serpent; and this mistake often makes 
 trouble and tends to bring discredit upon those 
 who really have seen Me Sea Serpent. Of late 
 years at NahaiU, everything uncommon, and 
 sometimes even a ledge of rocks, which surely 
 is not very uncommon here, is ''cracked up to 
 be" the Sea Serpent; and thus the credulous are 
 imposed upon — the veracity of many intelligent 
 and truth-speaking witnesses discredited, and an 
 air of falsehood thrown over the whole story. 
 
 But people are liable to be disappointed in re- 
 gpect to Nahant, more in other matters even, 
 than in relation to ihe existence and appearance 
 of the Sea Serpent. Each person has most like- 
 ly formed in his mind's eye, some idea of the 
 place; and the chance is, that in most cases it 
 will be erroneous. The first correct idea— that 
 Nahant is a ''watering place,^^ does not suffi- 
 ciently impress them. It is out in the ocean; yet 
 hundreds look (or such things, and such scenery. 
 
S4 
 
 and such recreations, as they would be likely to 
 find 20 or 50 miles in the interior. They ex- 
 pect, at least, to find trees and shrubbery, and it 
 may b .' woods an 1 groves, but even in this they 
 are to be disappoiated. Trees, woods and shrub- 
 bery, were once here, but so far from cultivating 
 or endeavoring to preserve them were the early 
 settlers, that they proposed a fine if they were 
 not all cut down in six years! — The place was 
 at that time, — nearly two centuries ago, — 
 thickly wooded, and the resort of wolves and 
 foxes. But now, alas, there is not a single tree, 
 unless some two or three ancient cedars have es- 
 caped the axe, of the original growth on the pe- 
 ninsula; and as to wolves and foxes, excepting 
 in th^deep fishures ol th.e rocks, there is no place 
 to hide their heads! 
 
 Still Nahant is not entirely without culti- 
 vation, and is yearly improving in this re- 
 spect. There are now some very hand- 
 some gardens belonging to the inhabitants and 
 to the summer cottages; and our friend Drew 
 has some fifteen or twenty acres under a high 
 state of cultivation, and has recently extended and 
 improved his large garden. The "store of good 
 land fit ior the plow," mentioned in history, is in a 
 fair way to b3 cultivated and improved under 
 his administration and by force and success of 
 his example. There are several fine fields of 
 grain, and of the sugar-beet now in a very pros- 
 perous condiiion, looking and promising as well 
 as any in the interior, besides abundance of gar- 
 den vegetables and good mowing land; and these 
 
85 
 
 are much less liable; to injury from early frost 
 than m the country. The growing of trees, 
 however, as we have already mentioned, is some- 
 what less successful, it being almost impossible 
 to preserve them through the winter siorms. — 
 They are probably killed by the salt-water spray 
 blown over themj during the continuance of se- 
 vere storms. In these storms the waves dash 
 quite over the highest rocks around the shore. 
 We have been informed that they are frequent- 
 ly seen to "o'ertop" the "Pulpit Rock;" and the 
 spray is then blown by the wind over the land, 
 even to overflow the piazza of the hotel, — this 
 it isj we suppose, which kills the young trees. 
 There are, nevertheless, a few scattering trees 
 that survive, in certain locations, — the liule Elm, 
 in front of the bath-house, and protected by it 
 from the spray, lives on from year to year, and 
 a few others in sheltered situations, seem as yet 
 to survive ihe wintry blasts. It is very proba- 
 ble that trees of various kinds, will flourish here, 
 as buildings multiply to break off the wind and 
 afford them shelter, but those produced from the 
 seed and not transplanted from a different soil, 
 will undoubtedly thrive best. 
 
 We cannot flatter ourselves yet, however, that 
 those who feel disappointed at not finding Na- 
 hant a country place, are very soon to be gra- 
 tified in their expectations. Its 'store of good 
 ground" may be cullivat(.'d, but woods, groves, 
 and orchards, it may not yet have. In truth, 
 desirable as these may be, Nahanr does not need 
 ihem — they may better be sought for elsewhere. 
 
56 
 
 Nahant has its rocks, beaches, caves, fish, sea- 
 air, ocean-scenery, its bath-houses and its hotel, 
 — and these are enough ! These make it what it 
 is,— a healthful and delightful resort, and those 
 who seek for such a place, where are constantly- 
 seen the sublimest exhibitions of nature, in the 
 ocean-wave, the rock-bound island, and in the 
 glorious heavens, — need feel no disappointment 
 on visiting Nahant. Characterised as Nahant 
 is, by the majestic and sublime, it is still not de- 
 ficient in some of the pleasing lesser works of 
 nature: the wild flower in its fields, the miner- 
 als in its bosom, the shells on its shore, the birds 
 on its marshes, and the fish in its waters, — af- 
 ford infinite sources of study and gratification to 
 the casual observer as to the lover of natural 
 history. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Nahant the resort of savage and civilized li(e — Some 
 further description of its topogr.Tpliy— Preservation 
 of honz Beach by a causeway. 
 Once Nahant was the resort of the savage, and 
 our readers have seen what kind of a resort it 
 was to them. It is now the resort of the most 
 refined of civilized life, and we have seen what 
 kind of a resort it is for them. The Indian en- 
 joyed it in all its natural beauty and freshness; 
 
S7 
 
 Tve enjoy ir, shorn of much of its original beauty 
 but unimpaired in its solid and sublime gran- 
 deur. 
 
 Those of our readers who have fnllowed these 
 pages thus far, if they have never visited Na- 
 hant, must have formed some idea of it; but 
 it nevertheless, may be proper that we should 
 attempt some iurther description. Nahant may 
 be called an arm of land extending into the sea, 
 or a ^'necke of land," as Mr Wood called it. It 
 extends over three miles from the shore of Lynn : 
 passing over the Beach from Lynn, nearly a 
 mile and three quarters, we come to Little Na- 
 hant, (an island, except the beach connections,) 
 containing nearly 50 acres, and consisting of two 
 principal elevations or hills; then passing over 
 the lesser Beach, one half mile in length, we 
 come to the larger nebulae, or island, called 
 Great Nahant. On this is the village, the cot- 
 tages, the church, the hotels, landing, &c. A 
 very considerable part of the lesser Nahant is 
 under good cultivation, being covered with 
 fields of "waving corn" and other productions 
 of the farmer. 
 
 Besides the two principal beaches, there are 
 eight or nine shorter beaches around the two 
 Nahants, and excepting these, the shore is en- 
 tirely rock-bound, so that the "very aspect of 
 the place is fortification enough to keepe off an 
 unknown enemie." To pass around the entire 
 shore of the Nahants, the distance would pro- 
 bably be from eight to ten miles. 
 
 Nahant does not extend in a straight line from 
 4 
 
88 
 
 ihe shore of Lynn into the Ocean. The long 
 heach runs in a curved line, and the short beach 
 with Great Nahant, somewhat resembles a boot 
 in shape, having, to be sure, a rather large foot. 
 The long beach is a great protection to the har- 
 bor of Lynn, and its preservation has been 
 deemed so essential that in 1824, a cause- 
 way of planks, filled in with sand, was construct- 
 ed, at the joint expense of the State and the 
 town of Lynn, each appropriating the sum of 
 $1500. The subject of preserving this beach 
 and harbor was introduced at the session of Con- 
 gress in 1838, and an appropriation ol $39,000 
 determined upon, but lost among the mass of 
 other unfinished business. 
 
 The beach has no doubt undergone very con- 
 siderable changes, and is in fact perpetually 
 changing. Wiihin the last half century, its 
 breadth is supposed to have been reduced ono 
 half, and it has become more curved than for- 
 merly. It is a question whether there was not 
 some extent of soil on this beach, in early time, 
 as stumps of large trees are now to be seen in 
 some places. On some gf the smaller beaches 
 also, stumps of large trees are found. The soil 
 of the long beach has undoubtedly aided in the 
 formation of the extensive marshes of Lynn, 
 which have been formed by the wash of theses. 
 The original surface of these marshes is five 
 feet below the present surface. 
 
CURIOSITIES OF NAHANT. 
 
 Egg Rock is said to be two miles N.E. of Na- 
 hant in the midst of a broad expanse of water. 
 It appears from the hotel to be a naked rock, 
 but contains two or three acres of land. It is 
 seldom visited except by sea birds, on account of 
 the danger of landing. We saw some time 
 since, a bolt of lightning strike on the summit of 
 this rock, with a tremendous crash. It appear- 
 ed to be, as ii descended from the dense, black 
 cloud, nearly as large round as a man's body, 
 and the concussion almost stunned persons who 
 w^ere witnessing the storm from the piazzas of 
 the hotel. In years past, many eggs of sea- 
 birds have been obtained on this rock. Its sum- 
 mit is higher than the observatory on the hotel. 
 
40 
 
 The Swallow's Cave is a passage under a 
 high cliff on the west side of Nahant, a few 
 rods south of the steamboat wharf. It is easily 
 accessible, is from 6 to 20 feet high, and from 
 5 to 14 feet in breadth; extending about 70 
 feet, opening to the water. It can be entered at 
 
 about half tide. The swallows have built their 
 neets in the upper part of this cavern, on ledges 
 or notches in the rocks. The passage through 
 it is rather uneven, but may nevertheless be ac- 
 complished by ladies with ease and safety. Pass- 
 ing throujo-h this cave, you may ascend by climb- 
 ing over the rocks, to the height above, without 
 returning the way you descend to the opening. 
 
 The Spouting Horn is a peculiar fissure in 
 ihe rocks, on the eastern shore of Nahant, near 
 Lindsey's Hill. The water is driven in by the 
 waves through a deep channel, a hundred feet 
 
41 
 
 before it enters the Spouting Horn, and is then, 
 (at about half tide,) forced into a cavernous tun- 
 nel about SO feet, from thence the water is ht- 
 erally "spouted," and thus returns in froth and 
 spray to meet the next wave. In a storm, it is 
 a grand sight, and is at all times worth a visit. 
 A path leads to it, and it is about half a mile 
 from the hotel. The cliff of rocks in which it is 
 formed, is about 50 feet above the sea^ but the 
 spectator may descend to the entrance of the 
 tunnel. 
 
 PULPIT ROCK. 
 
 The Pulpit Rock is a great curiosity. It 
 
 stands off the south end of Nahant, not far from 
 
 the Swallow's Cave. It is an immense square 
 
 block of rock, about 30 feet high, having a square 
 
 S 
 
45 
 
 open space at top, resembling in shape, an easy 
 chair, Tvhich is called the pulpit. It is difficult 
 to reach the top by climbing, the sides are so 
 perpendicular. In storms the waves dash over 
 this rock with great foree, the wind driving the 
 spray like rain all around, for some distance. Its 
 location is on the extreme southerly end of Na- 
 hant, only a minute's walk from the hotel. It is 
 well worth a visit. 
 
 "The Sisters," which are two tall slender 
 rocks, toward the S. W. point of Nahantj a 
 short distance from Pulpit rock, resemble each 
 other so exactly as to have obtained the name 
 of the sisters. 
 
 The Smoker's Cave is a recent discovery, 
 and is on the headland, directly below the Bill- 
 iard Room. It is a nice cool cover, under the 
 immense shelving rocks, where several persons 
 may ait and smoke their choice cigar. It is fur- 
 nished with a spring of fresh water. 
 
 The "Roaring CAVER^" is near the Smok- 
 er's Cave, on the left of it, among the same 
 cluster of rocks. It is a thin shelving cavern, 
 which extends under a point of rocks, and the 
 eea breaking in on the opposite side, gives forth 
 a roaring sound, resembling at times, the rum- 
 bling of distant thunder. 
 
 The Natural Bridge is near the Pulpit 
 Rock, and is a wedge of rocks, as it were, sus- 
 pended like an arch, over a deep and broad fis- 
 sure. It is not easy to cross the Bridge, as it is 
 below the surrounding ground. 
 
45 
 
 There are various other formations^ pos^^ess- 
 ing much interest, about the rocky shore and the 
 high cliffs of Nahant, which the curious observer 
 will readily discover. On the Little Nahant 
 (nearest Lynn,) is the Grotto, Wolf's Cavern, 
 Fox Cavern, &c. On the Great Nahant, there 
 are also, the Dashing Rock, Iron Mine, &c. 
 
 The Indians used the Long Beach as their 
 play ground, for running, leaping, shooting, 
 dancing, foot-ball, &c. 
 
 The harbors and coves about Nahant were 
 famous for Ducks, so that persons have killed 
 "50 Duckes at a shot." Sportsmen frequent 
 Nahant now for the same game, in the winter 
 season, but seldom do so well as the above. 
 
 HISTOPaCAL MEMORANDA- 
 
 In 1633, Thomas Dexter, (the purchaser of 
 Nahant,) was ordered to be "setin the bilbowes, 
 disfranchised and fined X£. for speaking re- 
 proachful and seditious U'orc/s against the gov- 
 ernment here established." 
 
 The same year, the poor Indian, Black Wil ! 
 Ham, (who sold Nahant to farmer Dexter,) was 
 hung at Richman's Island, Scarborough, Me., 
 "in revenge for the murder of Walter Bagnall, 
 who was killed by the Indians on the 3d of Oc- 
 lober, 1631." It does not appear that Black 
 William had any part in the murder, and if he 
 
44 
 
 had, Gov. Winthrop says that Bagnall was *'a 
 wicked fellow and had much wronged the In- 
 dians." 
 
 In 16S4, on training-day, by direction of Mr 
 Humphrey, Capt. Turner went with his compa- 
 ny to Nahant, to hunt the wolves by which it 
 was infested. 
 
 In 1635, Jan. 11, it was '^voled by the free- 
 man of the towne, that these men underwritten 
 shall have liberty to plant and .build at Nahant, 
 and shall possess each man land for the said pur- 
 pose, and proceeding in the trade of fishing. — 
 Mr Humfreys, Daniel How, Mr Ballard, Joseph 
 Belknap, Francis Dent, Timothy Tomlins, 
 Richard Walker, Thomas Talmage, Henry 
 Fenkes." 
 
 Jan. 18, *'It is ordered by the freemen of the 
 towne, that all such persons as are assigned ar>y 
 land at Nahant, to further the trade of making 
 fish, that if they do not proceed accordingly to 
 forward the said trade, but either doe grow re- 
 miss, or else give it quite over, that then all 
 such lotts shall be forfeited againe to the towne, 
 to dispose of as shall be thought fit." 
 
 1637, on the 15th November, the name of the 
 town was changed from Saugus to Lynn. The 
 Court record is, "Saugust is called Lin." 
 
 1638, on 15th March, "Lynn was granted 6 
 miles into the country; and M r Hawthorne and 
 Leift Davenport to view and inform how the 
 land beyond lyeth, whether it be fit for another 
 plantation or no." From this sprung Lynnfieid. 
 
 In 1646, Thomas Dexter was presented at the 
 
45 
 
 Quarterly sessions in August, for a common 
 sleeper in meetings for public worship, and fined. 
 1652, Winnepurkitt, on the 1st of April, mort- 
 gaged "all that tract of land commonly called 
 Nahant," to Nicholas Davison of Charlestown, 
 "for twenty pounds sterling dew many yeer." 
 
 In 1660, three acres of land at Nahant, apart 
 of Edward Holyoke's estate, were sold for £6. 
 Two oxen were sold at the same time for £12. 
 
 1668. ISth June, Robert Paige of Boston, 
 was presented, "for settinge saille from Nahant, 
 in his boate, being Loaden with vvood, there by 
 Profaining the Lord's daye." 
 
 Christopher Lindsey, (whose name is preserv- 
 ed in Lindsey's Hill,) died this year. He lived 
 on Nahant. 
 
 1678, James Mills lived on Nahant, one of 
 the first inhabitants. Rice's tavern now stands 
 on the spot where he lived. He was a shep- 
 herd and had seven children. Dorothy's Cove 
 was so named after one of his daughters, who 
 used to bathe there very frequently. 
 
 In 1689, Sir Edmund Andros, then Governor 
 of Massachusetts, assumed the ownership of Na- 
 hant with the intention of bestowing it on Ed- 
 ward Randolph, his Secretar}^, as a reward for 
 his services. This caused more trouble to the 
 people of the plantation. Randolph petitioned 
 Andros for the gift. 
 
 In remonstrating against this proceeding, the 
 town state, that they have possessed and im- 
 proved Nahantj "well onward to sixty years;" 
 that they "have paid iheir monies b3^ way of pur- 
 chase" for it, and that it is the only secure place 
 
46 
 
 they have -'for the grazing of some thousands 
 of sheep." 
 
 There is a ledge of rocks on the northern 
 shore of Nahant, once thought to be valuable, 
 as an Iron Mine. In 1791, the town voted, that 
 "Mr Hubbard of Braintree, should give three 
 shillings for every ton of Rock Mine, that he 
 has from Nahant, to the town, for the town's use, 
 and he to have so much as ihe town sees conve- 
 nient." We suspect he did not use much of it. 
 
 In 1695, the Nahant was claimed by Mrs Mary 
 Daffern and Mrs Martha Padish^ll, widows and 
 heiresses of Richard Woodey, Jr. then late 
 of Boston, deceased. They were defaulted by 
 the Court. Their claim was Ibunded on Dexter's 
 purchase. 
 
 In 1698, this year James Milh killed five fox- 
 es on Nahant. 
 
 The town ordered that no person should cut 
 more than seven trees on Nahant, under a pen- 
 alty of forty shillings for each tree exceeding 
 that number. 
 
 In 1704, 6th March, the town took measures 
 to prevent the cutting down of trees, &c. at Na- 
 hant. "Being informed that several persons had 
 cut down several trees or bushes in Nahant, 
 whereby there is likely to be no shade for the crea- 
 tures, voted, that no person hereafter should cut 
 any tree or bush theie, under penalty of IPs. 
 
 In 1706, at Lynn, the lands held "in common," 
 including Nahant and excepting only the train- 
 ingfield, were divided among the freeholders. — 
 Nahant was laid out in ranges, and in small lots 
 of from 20 Poles to five acres. 
 
47 
 
 In the great snow storm of 1717, a great num- 
 ber of Deer came from the woods for food, and 
 some fled to Nahant, and being chased hy the 
 wolves, leaped into the sea, and were drowned, 
 
 1722. Betwen 1698 and 1722, there were kil- 
 led in Lynn woods and on Nahant, 428 foxes, 
 for which the town paid 2s each. 
 
 1749. An extremely hot and dry summer. — 
 Immense multitudes of grasshoppers appeared. 
 They were «o numerous at Nahant that the in- 
 habitants walked together with bushes in their 
 hands, and drove them by thousands, into the 
 Bea. Hay was scarce and imported from England 
 
 Before the year 1800, there were only three 
 dwelling houses at Nahant, viz. the houses of 
 Jonathan Johnson, Nehemiah Breed, and Abner 
 Hood. The frame of the first named house, built 
 about 120 yrs. ago, is now in the house of Caleb 
 Johnson. 
 
 In 1803, Aug. 23, a hotel on the western part 
 of Nahant was burnt — the only house ever burnt 
 there. It was owned by Capt. Joseph Johnson, 
 and was soon after rebuilt. 
 
 In 1809, Sept. 20, a f^ock of sheep on Nahant 
 was struck by lightning, and 18 killed. 
 
 In 1817, the first of the new cottages Avas built 
 by Hon. Thos. H. Perkins, near the Spouting 
 Horn. 
 
 The Sea Serpent is said first to have been 
 seen this year, at Gloucester, Cape Ann. 
 
 In 1818, a neat stone building was erected for 
 a school house and library, in which divine ser- 
 vice was occasionally performed. An elegant 
 folio Prayer Book, once the property of Geo. 
 
48 
 
 IV. of England, was presented to this library by 
 the lady of Governor Gore. Several hundred 
 volumes were received as donations, from Bos- 
 ton and other places. 
 
 This year a committee of five persons from 
 different towns was appointed to settle ihe long 
 existing- difficulties between the proprietors of Na- 
 hant lots and ihe people of Lynn, to the right to 
 take sea weed, sand, stone, drift wood, &c. from 
 the coves and beaches of Nahant. The Commit- 
 tee, however, did not decide upon the matter. 
 
 In 1820, June, the steam boat Eagle run be- 
 tween Hingham and Boston, and Boston and 
 Nahant, leaving Hingham at 6 a. m.; Boston at 
 9; Nahant at 3 1-2 p. m. and Boston for Hing- 
 ham again, at 5. 
 
 The Hotel wasbuilt this year, by Hon. Thos. 
 H. Perkins, Dr Edw. H. Robbins, and others. 
 
 In July, the Sea Serpent was again seen. On 
 5th Aug. it was seen off Phillips's Point, about 
 a quarter of a mile distant — sea calm. J. B. 
 Lewis, Andrew Reynolds and Benj. King, went 
 out in a boat after him, and got within 30 yards 
 of him. One of them counted 23 bunches on 
 his back; head black, resembling common ser- 
 pents, two feet above the water, and about the 
 size of a common fire bucket. Was seen again 
 the next day. 
 
 t 1832. A new and beautiful church was buili 
 this year, by funds furnished chiefly by the lib- 
 eral subscriptions of the summer residents. 
 
 1842. This year the residents at Nahant pe- 
 tioned for incorporation as a separate town. 
 
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